Pilsner Urquell to be exported to Poland directly from Pilsen

Beginning April 2011, Pilsner Urquell will be exported to Poland directly from Pilsen. Since 2002, licensed production of Pilsner Urquell has been carried out in the Polish town of Tychy in response to a capacity shortage in the Pilsen brewery, as well as customs barriers on beer exports to one of the our biggest export markets, Poland. Production at Tychy was intended solely for the Polish market, where the beer was distributed. With the Czech Republic and Poland's accession to the EU, the customs barriers were eliminated. Also, due to further investments to expand the production capacity in Pilsen during past years, the reasons for this licensed production no longer exist. Pilsner Urquell for Poland will now be brewed in Pilsen, as it is for the Czech market and more than 50 other export countries. „We have made this decision with the aim to strengthen the position of Pilsner Urquell in the Polish market and to further enhance its appeal in the top premium segment. We are looking forward to many future years of success in the Polish market,“ said Doug Brodman, CEO of Plze?sk? Prazdoj. Poland is the third major market for Pilsner Urquell beer in the long term.

Details on the Polish beer market: Poland is the fourth major beer market in Europe, with an annual consumption of 30 to 35 million hectolitres.* After a decline in sales in the past years as a consequence of excise tax increases, the beer market in Poland partly stabilised in 2010, and its decline is now estimated at 1 to 2 percent. Nevertheless, the recent period has reflected difficult economic conditions and other adverse events, such as heavy flooding and the tragic death of the president of Poland.